- The first viruses arose from mathematical theories about self-replicating automata.
- Creeper, in 1971, was the first computer virus, followed by the first antivirus, Reaper.
- As technology advanced, viruses evolved from simple codes to massive threats like WannaCry.
Few terms are as emblematic in the field of technology as computer viruses . These small, annoying pieces of software have evolved alongside computers, going from simple academic demonstrations to becoming a serious threat to users, businesses, and governments.
The purpose of this article is to review the history of computer viruses, from their humble beginnings as mathematical curiosities to their current role as weapons of cybercrime, breaking down their most important milestones and analyzing how they have changed the landscape of technology and cybersecurity.
Theoretical beginnings: The scientific basis of viruses
The idea of a computer virus has its roots in the 1940s. The mathematician John von Neumann was the first to theorize about self-replicating automata, that is, programs capable of duplicating and propagating themselves. In his work " Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata ," published in 1966, he raised the possibility that a program could infect other systems, similar to the behavior of biological viruses.
Later, in 1959, at Bell Labs, a curious game called Darwin was created . It consisted of programs competing against each other for access to a computer's memory. Although these experiments were not intended to be malicious, they were a prelude to what would become the first real viruses.
The birth of the first virus: Creeper and Reaper
The first virus in history was developed in 1971 by Bob Thomas, an engineer at BBN Technologies. Named Creeper , this program's sole purpose was to replicate itself and display the message " I'm Creeper, catch me if you can! " on the screens of infected systems . Although it didn't cause harm, it laid the foundation for malware as we know it today.
To counter Creeper, the first antivirus program in history, called Reaper , was created . This program had the specific task of tracking and eliminating viruses , marking the beginning of a long battle between viruses and protection tools.
The rise of Trojans and PC viruses
In the 70s and 80s, viruses began to evolve into more complex forms. One of the earliest examples was the ANIMAL Trojan , developed in 1975 by John Walker. This program, disguised as an innocent guessing game, included a hidden component called PREVADE, which replicated the Trojan in the directories of the infected system.
In 1986, brothers Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi created Brain , the first virus designed specifically for PCs. This malware attacked boot disks, slowing down systems and tracking infected devices. While not particularly harmful, its creation marked a new era in the mass propagation of viruses.
The first mass attacks
With the growing popularity of personal computers, viruses began to wreak havoc on a large scale. In 1988, the Morris worm infected approximately 10% of the systems connected to ARPANET, the precursor to the internet. This attack demonstrated for the first time the destructive potential of malware on interconnected networks.
In the late 80s, Vienna appeared , a virus that damaged files on computers running the DOS operating system. Shortly after, in 1992, the Michelangelo virus generated global panic when it activated on March 6, destroying data on infected systems.
The rise of ransomware and other threats
In 1989, the AIDS Trojan became the first example of ransomware , a type of malware that restricts access to a user's data until a ransom is paid. It was developed by Joseph Popp, who demanded $189 to unlock affected systems.
The 90s brought new threats, such as polymorphic viruses , capable of changing their code to evade antivirus software, and macro viruses like WinWord Concept , which infected Microsoft Word documents.
The impact of viruses in the 21st century
The beginning of the new millennium was marked by attacks that exploited the expansion of email. Cases like I Love You and Melissa affected millions of users worldwide, spreading rapidly through infected attachments.
In 2004, the MyDoom virus spread at an unprecedented rate, infecting between 16% and 25% of emails worldwide. This attack resulted in estimated economic losses of $40.000 billion.
Modern threats
In recent years, threats like Conficker and WannaCry have put companies and institutions at risk globally. WannaCry, for example, launched a massive attack in 2017, affecting more than 141.000 systems worldwide, including hospitals and critical businesses.
Furthermore, vulnerabilities like Heartbleed have shown that not only viruses pose a threat, but also flaws in security tools such as an IPS.
Throughout history, viruses have evolved from academic curiosities to a full-scale criminal industry. Their evolution has driven significant advances in cybersecurity, but has also highlighted the need to remain vigilant. From Creeper to WannaCry, these programs have proven to be both a threat and a challenge to humanity.
